Issue - meetings

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Gwynfor Owen will propose as follows:-

The Cambrian Coast Railway is of immense importance to the economy of Gwynedd, with thousands of visitors using it, but more importantly, the people of Gwynedd themselves use this Railway on a daily basis to go to school, work, to shop or for leisure purposes.

Transport for Wales have recently stated that they want to cut the number of trains running along the line.

The way to improve train use is by increasing the number of trains and definitely not cutting them.

This Council makes it clear to Transport for Wales and to the Welsh Government, who are the owners of Transport for Wales, that any cut in the number of trains on the Cambrian Railway is not acceptable, and instead they should look at how to increase the number of trains throughout the year.

The Cambrian Coast Railway is of immense importance to the economy of Gwynedd, with thousands of visitors using it, but more importantly, the people of Gwynedd themselves use this Railway on a daily basis to go to school, work, to shop or for leisure purposes.

Transport for Wales have recently stated that they want to cut the number of trains running along the line.

The way to improve train use is by increasing the number of trains and definitely not cutting them.

This Council makes it clear to Transport for Wales and to the Welsh Government, who are the owners of Transport for Wales, that any cut in the number of trains on the Cambrian Railway is not acceptable, and instead they should look at how to increase the number of trains throughout the year.

(A)      Submitted – the following notice of motion by Councillor Gwynfor Owen under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:-

The Cambrian Coast Railway is of immense importance to the economy of Gwynedd, with thousands of visitors using it, but more importantly, the people of Gwynedd themselves use this Railway daily to go to school, work, to shop or for leisure purposes.

Transport for Wales have recently stated that they want to cut the number of trains running along the line.

The way to improve train use is by increasing the number of trains and certainly not cutting them.

This Council makes it clear to Transport for Wales and to the Welsh Government, who are the owners of Transport for Wales, that any cut in the number of trains on the Cambrian Railway is not acceptable, and instead they should look at how to increase the number of trains throughout the year.

The member set out the context to his motion, and noted:-

·         That the Council once again found itself discussing how rural Gwynedd was being treated by the organisations that made decisions on our behalf, slowly bleeding us of our existence and turning us into nothing more than a Leisure Park for Visitors.

·         As one who represented the village of Llanbedr on the Council, he was tired of hearing the message that his constituents had to stop using their car and use public transport instead.  This was easy to say if you lived on the M4 corridor or maybe the A55, but impossible for those living on the western coast of Gwynedd.

·         Transport for Wales planned to remove four trains a day, with the last train of the day to leave Pwllheli at 17:42 between December and March and 19:30 in the summer, and the last train of the day to leave Machynlleth at 19:04 in the winter and 20:55 in the summer.

·         He had a meeting scheduled soon with the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates, MS, to discuss the Llanbedr Bypass, and he would also be raising the point regarding trains, as he had been given to understand that the Cabinet Secretary had already approved the changes.

·         He wished to thank the MS, Mabon ap Gwynfor, and MP Liz Saville Roberts, and also the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig, for clearly stating their complete objection to these plans.

·         When the Cambrian Coast Railway Committee had last met on 22 March, Transport for Wales mentioned nothing about potentially cutting the number of trains, and the Chair of the Committee had agreed to his request for an urgent meeting of the Committee to discuss the situation.

·         Transport for Wales were subject to the Welsh Language Standards. Had an assessment of the Welsh language been made when implementing these changes?  It appeared that the Welsh Government, through Transport for Wales, were once again turning their backs on our Welsh language strongholds

·         If Wales were an independent country, we could look at what  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13